Naruto the Movie: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom 2006

Naruto Uzumaki, Kakashi Hatake, Sakura Haruno and Rock Lee, voiced by Junko Takeuchi, Kazuhiko Inoue, Chie Nakamura and Yōichi Masukawa, are assigned to protect prince Hikaru Tsuki Kyousuke Ikeda and his father Michiru Tsuki Akio Otsuka, the heir to the incredibly prosperous Land of the Moon, on their journey back to their kingdom. Hikaru’s spoiled attitude tests Naruto’s patience, and the group soon discovers just how wealthy Michiru is when he casually buys an entire circus to befriend its star attractions, Chamū the saber-toothed cat and its clever monkey partner Kiki. Hikaru tries to befriend Chamū, but the cat’s aggression backfires and forces Naruto to intervene and rescue Hikaru, setting the tone for a trip that will reveal what truly matters beyond riches.

At the port, Michiru and Hikaru pay a visit to Amayo Marika Hayashi, Michiru’s ex-wife. Amayo greets Hikaru warmly but resists any rekindling of the marriage due to Michiru’s materialism and his inability to grasp what really matters. The ship’s voyage to the Land of the Moon takes a troubling turn when a storm strikes, forcing the crew to secure the circus animals aboard. Chamū’s clashes with Hikaru linger in the air, and Naruto’s growing concern for animal welfare clashes with Hikaru’s longing for friendship with the animals. Yet, with Naruto’s help, Hikaru manages to get Chamū and Kiki to safety, and the two boys mend their differences, paving the way for an unlikely bond to form between them.

When the ship finally reaches the Land of the Moon, the streets are eerily deserted. Shabadaba, a greedy minister to the king Kakeru Tsuki [Rokuro Naya], has staged a coup and seized control. The loyal Korega [Kenji Hamada] leads a group of guards to help the travelers escape, taking them to a mountain refuge where they meet Kakeru, who is badly wounded. Korega reveals that Shabadaba’s coup has been planned for some time and that Kakeru sent Michiru on the voyage to keep him safe. Shabadaba, however, has hired three mercenary ninjas to back him up, and their leader Ishidate [Masashi Sugawara] wields a mysterious gauntlet that turns Kakeru’s lower body to stone, a wound Sakura [Chie Nakamura] cannot heal because it must be treated immediately after it happens.

Kakeru’s mortally wounded state and Korega’s warning prompt a dangerous escape attempt that fails when Ishidate’s team unleashes a reflex-weakening poison on the group. Korega is petrified and killed in the assault, and Michiru is captured. Naruto’s resolve hardens as he taps into some of the Nine-Tails’ power to protect Hikaru, and the party resolves to rescue Michiru from Shabadaba’s clutches. The mercenaries’ capture of Michiru intensifies Hikaru’s resolve to protect what truly matters, while Naruto, Chamū and Kiki provide support, and Kakashi leads a coordinated strike with the circus crew and Korega’s loyal guards to break through the palace defenses.

In the climactic confrontation inside the palace, Hikaru and Naruto make their way to Michiru. Meanwhile, Sakura and Rock Lee fight and defeat Ishidate’s underlings, Karenbana [Haruhi Nanao] and Kongō [Hisao Egawa]. As Ishidate battles Naruto, Ishidate manages to petrify Naruto’s leg and even petrifies Shabadaba when he tries to force Ishidate to kill Michiru first. Michiru and Hikaru lend their strength to Naruto, carrying him so he can unleash Rasengan, enhanced by the Land of the Moon’s moonlight. The combination proves devastating for Ishidate and Shabadaba, who fall when their distraction with Chamū and Kiki ends their defense.

With the threat vanquished, Michiru thanks Naruto for helping him understand what really matters, and he and Hikaru pledge to remember that lesson always. Kakashi’s extreme exhaustion from overusing his Sharingan requires the team to pause for a two-week stay in the Land of the Moon, where they enjoy a vacation and witness Michiru and Hikaru’s inauguration as the new King and Prince. As the team prepares to depart, Michiru hints at reconciling with Amayo, signaling a future built on more than wealth and power and a renewed sense of what truly matters.